The Fenian poet, author of the popular song "Rising of the
Moon", John Keegan Leo Casey was imprisoned here during the
1860s; subsequently in the 20th century playwright and IRA activist
Brendan Behan
was also gaoled within.

Sanitation and crowding

The prison was built with in-cell sanitation but this was
removed in 1939 at the instigation of a civil servant who deemed
that 'prisoners were using too much water'. Inmates have to slop out, using chamber pots, empty
milk cartons and other receptacles in lieu of proper
sanitation.

The Inspector-General of Prisons and Places of Detention has
stated that prisoners in Mountjoy are existing in most inhumane,
degrading and overcrowded conditions, and that many have to sleep
on the floor in filthy conditions due to overcrowding. He
recommended that it be closed and demolished. In 2006 the
Inspector-General described the attitude of the then Progressive Democrat Minister for Justice
Michael
McDowell towards reform as "frightening and fascist"[3].

In August 2006, as a result of severe overcrowding, prisoner
Gary Douche was murdered in a packed holding cell. This prompted
the Minister of Justice to put a cap on the capacity of the prison
at 520.

Replacement

A 60-hectare site has been acquired for €30 million at Thornton
Hall, North County Dublin, on which a
replacement for Mountjoy is to be constructed. The new facility
will accommodate 1,200 convicts. The site will include court
facilities, video-conference links, medical and therapeutic
facilities [4]